[EAL] Wassail

The Canton of Canton of Bryniau Twynnog invites you to Wassail on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at St. Agatha Community Centre (1793 Erb’s Road, St Agatha ON).

The year is 1527 A.D., and in the sweltering jungles of the Yucatan, groups of Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors are staking their claim to the rich lands of the Mayans in order to take their gold before the others do!

Choose your side, and take part in the many activities of the day to claim territories on the map of the Yucatan. The most effective conquistadores not only win the lion's share of the gold and bragging rights, but also get first crack at the ships rations - also known as the Pot Luck Feast!

Just a friendly request to all those planning on attending Wassail not to bring any oranges or similar citrus-based things, on account of severe food allergies of Ealdormere's favourite now-innocent Viking Chick (TM).

ARMOURED COMBAT:The winner of each of these events will be able to claim a territory for their side.

Toys for Tots Armoured Tourney: In keeping with previous Wassails, his Excellency Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi will be sponsoring the Toys for Tots tourney in support of the Tree of Hope, which provides holiday gifts to children from less fortunate families.

Entry cost is one toy for two lives; a second toy will earn the fighter a third life. No "buy-ins" once the tourney has started. The tournament will be a single combat, round-robin, elimination

Marshal: Baron Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi

Conquistadores Battle:

This Tourney will be a series of small melees. Depending on the weather, we will either do teams of three or teams of five (or possibly more!, depending on numbers and space).

Teams will be formed from fighters from each side (no Spanish-Portuguese alliances). Each team will face off against a team from the other side. Each team will fight two battles, after which the side that earned the most victories will be declared the winners.

RAPIER COMBAT:

Toys for Tots Rapier Tourney: In keeping with previous Wassails, his Excellency Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi will be sponsoring the Toys for Tots tourney in support of the Tree of Hope, which provides holiday gifts to children from less fortunate families.

Entry cost is one toy for two lives; a second toy will earn the fighter a third life. No "buy-ins" once the tourney has started. The tournament will be a single combat, round-robin, elimination.

Marshal: Mistress Eyrny Omarsdottir

YOUTH COMBAT:

Tots for Toys Youth Combat Tourney: Hosted by Ramshaven's very own brute squad, Jobjorn lethrablaka, youth fighters can fight not only for the glory of conquest, but for Webkinz as well! Each youth who enters the competion will recieve one of several Webkinz donated by Jobjorn.

So don your armour, take forth your mightiest weapon, and do combat for plushies!

YOUTH ACTIVITIES:

Mayan Treasure Hunt!: We need our most skilled young trackers to find supplies, weapons and - most importantly - the treasures of the Mayans before the other side does! Hidden around the event site are numerous items each side needs to conquer the Yucatan. Whoever finds all the items and returns to their Team Captain gets to claim a territory. Prizes will be awarded to all our participating youngsters!

Paper Snowflakes: Though it might be incredibly warm here in the Gulf of Mexico, many of our Conquistadors long for the snows of home. Help remind them of winter with the help of Lord Adnar and some scissors to make snowflakes to hang up on the hall or give to your friends and family! (This activity does not result in a territory capture).

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Wassail Food Drive: We will be doing is a food drive for the Waterloo Region Food Bank as one of the territory-claiming events this year. The side that donates the most food (by weight) will capture a territory. So bring your food items and make sure you can tuck into Feast before the other guys!

The Slaughered Ram Board Games Tournament: Hey, conquering the Yucatan is thirsty work! Come relax in our very own Den of Inequity, the Slaughtered Ram, and join in Lord Cu Allaidh Dona's Tourney of Games! Play one of several games at your leisure throughout the day, and score a point for your side every time you win. At the end of the day, the side that has scored the most points can claim a territory.

Games include Backgammon, Chess, Nine Man Morris, Hnefatafl, Noddy... and it is rumoured some sinful card games might also be included (gasp!).

Dietrich von Sachsen's Bardic Challenge: The Bard of Ramshaven has challenged the Bards of the Baronies and the Shires to win the affections of the people through their art this Wassail! As our fighters and fencers take time to enjoy some lunch, each of our Bardic champions will regale the hall with the songs of the challenge. Each bard will first perform the song extolling the virtues of their home group. This is to be followed up by each champion's "open topic" song.

Every gentle will be given a coin; after the open topic songs are sung, select your favourite tune by placing your coin in the bowl of the bard who most pleased you. Prizes will be awarded to all bards, including a special prize to the winner of the competition!

Best Cookie Competition: In addition to doing our usual Wassail Cookie Exchange, we will be holding a competition for the best cookies. So bake some extra holiday treats and join in!

Best Wassail Contest: And what would Wassail be without Wassail! Make your own wassail dish to share to refresh the populace. Due to site restrictions, the Wassail must, sadly, be non-alchoholic.

Creative Toast/Boast Contest: In medieval times, toasts (and the almost inevitably accompanying boasts) were a major part of feasts, where heroes would extoll their deeds and skalds would recall the great battles and sagas of old. Throughout the day, gentles can submit a mead-hall boast to be read aloud at feast. Winner will be chosen by loudest applause.

A typical boast might include...

Self-identification (I am . . .) Your immediate ancestry and something about your lineage Boasts of at least three past achievements and/or skills Praise the King/Queen and the Hosts of the Hall Boast of an achievement to come Alliterative phrases (monster-mashing, Grendel grater, etc.) No more than 20 -25 lines (they don't need to rhyme)

This year's Wassail Pot-Luck feast is not only a fine way to end the day but the prize for this gruelling campaign of looting and pillaging. The winner of the campaign will get first run at the feast after Head Table.

The site has a fairly large kitchen, with two stovetop ovens, plenty of counter space, and several outlets. However, please bear in mind that there is only one fridge/freezer unit in the kitchen.

Juice and Pop will be available for sale. The site is dry.

Wassail's Yucatan-Themed lunch will be provided by the wonderful cooking talents of Her Grace Duchess Rylyn. Lunch is $6.00 for the Pork Option, and $5.00 for the Veggie option.